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The impact of computers on the mining industry has increased for the past twenty years in most parts of the world. The application of computers in the mining industry has been demonstrated in areas such as geological data analysis, ore reserve estimation, mine planning, and manpower training. There is also a general concern in this country regarding the computing background of graduating mining engineers from the Australian higher institutions of learning. This paper describes specific steps which have been taken at the Department of Civil and Mining Engineering, The University of Wollongong to provide adequate computing background to mining engineering graduates. Specific topics discussed include hardware and software available to students and how "computers" have been integrated into the mining engineering course.

Jan 1, 1986

Despite extensive oil exploration in"Western Australia over the past 12 years no commercial oil fields have yet been found. A total ' of 66 test wells have been drilled throughout the State but only Rough Range No.s.. 1 and 1A have produced oil in significant quantities. Active oil exploration is now in progress in the" Canning, Carnarvon, Perth, Bonaparte Gulf and Officer Basins. Test wells have been drilled' in ,all of these except the Officer Basin, where the subsurface stratigraphy is still unknown. Large .areas of the other four have hot yet been drilled. It, is- probable that. commercial oil deposits will eventually be found' in these basins as they contain thick marine sequences, and have structures 'suitable for.,the. entrapment of oil. .

Jan 1, 1964

By Q Xin, X Shengming, C RuÆan, Z Zhigeng a

The optimum defluorinating conditions for Sichuan bastnasite crude ore were determined by orthogonal experiments. Over 95 per cent fluorine in the crude ore was stripped by roasting 30 minutes of the crude ore with Na2CO3/ore =0.25 at 650oC. The stripped fluorine crude ore was further treated by NH4 Cl to recover rare earth. Above 95 per cent rare earth can be leached by water after the stripped fluorine crude ore mixed NH4Cl(NH4Cl/ore =1:1) roasted 1 h at 325oC. At the same time, the rare earth leaching solution contains little Fe, Si and Al. Therefore it is propitious to further purify the solution and recover rare earth.

Jan 1, 2000

People in the work environment (and often elsewhere) are seen as a commodity (we use them for our purposes).The general accepted view of a Company is that shareholders are "The Company" and that they employ people to utilise their money in a particular field to generate more money to give a return on investment. To achieve this, capital equipment is purchased to fulfil a task and people are employed to use this equipment. Equipment and people are commodities purchased with money.The focus of this approach is MONEY. The equipment and people, and the use of them, determines the amount of money that can be generated. In this approach people are motivated by financial concerns. The harder the times the more money becomes the focus.

Jan 1, 1998

Poorly designed sampling protocols generally result in high project risk by artificially increasing grade variability (ie the nugget effect). Sample collection, preparation and assay protocols that suit the ore type, together with QA/QC systems, will reduce this risk. All reporting codes (eg JORC, 2004) require the Competent Person to consider the quality and implication of sampling and assaying programs. High sampling errors beget higher project uncertainty; despite this fact, sampling does not receive the attention it deserves. The case studies presented show that many sampling issues frequently go unrecognised or unaddressed, resulting in poor project decisions during exploration through to feasibility and production. The overall conclusion is that correct sampling is critical to mining project success and that there is often a need for its optimisation.

Jan 1, 2007

Comalco Aluminium Limited uses a computer system for cost, supply and maintenance reporting and control at its bauxite mine in Weipa, North Queensland. The system collects data on a daily basis at a high level of detail on both cost and maintenance history. This allows useful reporting to all levels of management from the shop floor to the General Manager. The most successful aspect of the system is that the information is available in all workshops on visual display units. This allows the real spenders of the Company's money, Foremen and Tradesmen, to make well informed decisions. The system has also decreased the time taken to find parts and information which gives the Foremana greater opportunity to do his real job of supervision and quality control.

Jan 1, 1983

An extensive study was carried out to evaluate the performance of Outokumpu OK50, OK38 and Maxwell MX14 cells at ComincoÆs Red Dog flotation concentrator in Alaska. Tests were conducted by varying operating conditions of the cells installed in different circuits in the plant. The hydrodynamic and gas dispersion properties were measured and the metallurgical performance of the cells was evaluated for each condition used in the tests. This paper highlights the importance of superficial gas velocity, bubble surface area flux, gas hold-up, power consumption, residence time distribution and froth flow behaviour in optimising cell performance. The findings of these tests provide valuable insights into selection of the best cell operating conditions to optimise circuit performance.

Jan 1, 2000

This work provides a comparison between the most commonly used classification equipment in the treatment of minerals - hydrocyclones and spiral classifiers - considering their applications and costs. Although in use for decades in the mining industry, spiral classifiers have lost a lot of their importance due to the development of cyclones. This trend, however, is now being reversed, and in the last few years there has been an increasing interest in spiral classifiers, in view of their advantages over cyclones, such as: ò possibility of obtaining more thickened solids; ò less by-pass; ò great durability; ò lower operating cost. This work approaches the different aspects related to the installation, operation and costs of maintenance of these machines, giving a critical comparison of the involved costs.

Jan 1, 1993

By Carlie JC

Many low sulphidation epizonal gold and zinc-lead vein deposits within magmatic arcs are situated on basement highs, and post-date both the main volcanic episode and porphyry copper (gold) mineralization. These features are best explained by emplacement of a flat batholith a few kilometres beneath each mineral district, as recently demonstrated by geophysical data in the Baia Mare district of Romania. The batholith provides heat for the hydrothermal system, and results in extensional faulting both through up-doming of the overlying rocks, and in some arcs through incipient collapse of the thermally weakened crust under regional extensional stress. More water-rich magmas emplaced at greater depths could explain some deep epizonal and mesothermal gold deposits situated outside magmatic arcs.

Jan 1, 1995

By Bowdler RJ, Lowson RT, Sarbutt JV

There have been few long-term studies of sulphide oxidation under controlled conditions. The object of this study was to investigate the oxidation and leaching characteristics of pyritic mine material under conditions that were commensurate with field conditions but which could be controlled and monitored on a long term basis. The test material - overburden from Woodlawn Mines Pty Ltd - was packed into a 300 cm high column and leached with water at an infiltration rate of 256 mm y-1 for 5 years. Chemical conditions within the column were continuously monitored by sensors embedded in the overburden and leachate from the base of the column was analysed weekly. The study examined the relationships between heavy metal release and gas, moisture, and chemical conditions in the column.

Jan 1, 1988

By Waters JC

Pseudoclastic hydrothermal alteration textures occur within quenched coherent dykes forming part of a subaqueous dome complex (-4 Ma) on Ponza Island, Italy. These textures are similar to those observed in considerably older (-500 Ma) subaqueous volcanic rocks at a number of localities throughout the Mount Read Volcanics in Tasmania and elsewhere in ancient volcanic sequences of this type in Australia. This is significant because the processes of formation, hydrothermal alteration and secondary mineralisation of ancient volcanic sequences may be better understood if we can make comparisons with modern analogues. Observations at Ponza imply that these pseudoclastic alteration features form synvolcanically or immediately after dyke emplacement and lava extrusion. This is compatible with scenarios presented for their formation in ancient sequences in the Mount Read Volcanics, Tasmania.

Jan 1, 1995

By Qisu W

The ground vibration produced by the bench blasts of a single hole and a row of two or three holes is recorded in an iron mine. Using the seismic signal generated by a single-hole shot as the source function, we have developed a computer program of a simulating ground vibration by bench blast. The reasonable delay time of blast in the iron mine has been discussed tentatively with the Fourmap invented by Anderson, D.A. The seismograms measured from the single-row blasts of two or three holes have shown the method of simulating vibration is feasible on the whole. For large scale production blasts, a combination of the vibration simulation and the high-speed photograph is used to choose the delay Time.

Jan 1, 1990

By A C. Robertson

Over the past decade there has been continual change in the way that mines have been managed and the component roles of those people who make up the total mine management system. Major issues have included the change in the business structure of mining companies, the change in on-site infrastructure, increased personal liability of managers for the safety and health of employees and increasing social and environmental pressures on managers and their staff. This paper looks at the changing roles of two of the many groups of professionals associated with the mining industry - the equipment supplier and the mining consultant. The profiles of the ACME Group Pty Ltd, suppliers of ventilation equipment and ancillary canvas and plastic products to the mining and construction industry, and Tennent, Isokangas Pty Ltd, Consulting Mining Engineers, are presented.

Jan 1, 1998

A useful sampling device can be constructed using three movable flaps. One is moved between its two extreme positions as material is flowing past it; the other two are only moved while no material is flowing past them. Material commences to flow into a sample container as the primary flap is moved from right to left, continues to flow into the sample container as the primary flap is moved from left to right, and the flow is terminated as the primary flap is next moved from right to left. As for several other sampling devices, an argument that there is no delimitation error can be made on the basis that the sampler conceptually divides the stream up into discrete portions and takes a set of equally-spaced portions as a sample.

Jan 1, 2008

The Rum Jungle mine was operated by Territory Enterprises Pty Ltd who mined uranium on behalf of the Australian Government with operations spanning the period from 1953 to the final closure of the mine in 1971. In addition to the extraction of uranium from the open cut pits, copper, manganese and lead were mined and processed at Rum Jungle. During the latter part of the operation, and after the closure of the mine, environmental studies were carried out which were aimed at determining the causes of the pollution at Rum Jungle and identifying a rehabilitation strategy for the mine site. These studies identified sources of heavy metal and acid pollution and proposed a rehabilitation strategy which consisted of 1. recontour, construct impervious covers and controlled surface drainage on, and revegetate three overburden heaps,

Jan 1, 1984

By T C. Hughes, R Hughes

Ausmelt has developed and commercialised high temperature reactor technology that has been applied to waste processing in the form of a catalytic waste converter (CWC). Ausmelt Technology uses a top submerged lance system within a versatile converter containing an oxidised molten siliceous slag. Metals and other valuable products can be extracted from wastes for recycle into the community. Non-valuable components such as toxic organochlorinated compounds are destroyed and prevented from reforming. The slag produced is inert and can be safely used in building and concreting. The CWC can be applied to practically all types of wastes and examples from Ni-Cd batteries to toxic wastes are discussed. Additional benefits can be derived from large-scale operations if the surplus heat generated is exploited to produce steam and electricity.

Jan 1, 2000

The accurate estimation of ore reserves is the most crucial element in a financier's assessment of the risks associated with funding a mining project. It is crucial because any deficiencies in the estimation of a company's ore reserves will be later reflected in the cash flows derived from the production and sale of the commodity. Bankers must rely on the advice of members of your institute in assessing the quality and quantity of reserves. This information helps determine the cash flows which bankers use in their credit making decisions. It is against this background that this exposition has been prepared on "what bankers require in ore reserve statements" or put another way, "what does a bank require in ore reserve statements in order for it to provide the necessary credit Approvals".

Jan 1, 1987

Self Advancing or "Poweredtt supports are a successful means of supporting roof and designs have reached the stage where adequate support capa- bility is available for all conditions. Some designs have resulted in equipment being too difficult to transport underground and too complex to maintain. Current trends are reducing those problems and simplicity in hydraulic systems is now the keynote of both supplier and user. There is a good possibility that the "Shield-Chock" support will be the universal design of the future. So-called t'shortwall supports" have been developed to the point where they can be applied with a high degree of confidence to conditions of great variety. Develop- ments by manufacturers and practices of users related to maintenance should result in consistent achievement of designed performance.

Jan 1, 1974

Sampling is an integral part of gold bullion analysis. Gold mining industries sell millions of dollars worth of gold on the basis of analyses. Biased sampling can cause a serious loss in terms of monetary value to a mining company; hence accurate sampling is of great importance. The sampling procedures for gold bullion will be described. Emphasis is given to the most reliable method of obtaining a representative sample from a gold bar. The problems associated with sample preparation will also be discussed.The sampling procedure at the Kalgoorlie Metallurgical Laboratory will be evaluated in the light of comparative results from the Australian Gold Refineries (Perth, Kalgoorlie). The most common sampling practices adopted by different gold mining companies in the Goldfields and Australian Gold Refineries, Western Australia will also be presented.

Jan 1, 1976

Improvements in mechanisation should not be considered independently of safety and of environmental hazards. The need to keep gas contents within statutory limits may make the time needed to partially drain a gassy seam the effective control on face development times. Dust levels may provide an effective control on coal extraction rates on any one face. The combination of gas and dust on high output longwall faces may make it necessary for each one to be treated as a separate mine in terms of ventilation, and the faceworkers may need special protection. Mechanisation and safety can be mutually beneficial when mechanisation combined with systematic safety assessment reduces accidents, and when a thorough study of how to reduce accidents and health risks indicates the best method to improve mechanisation.

Jan 1, 1988